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Star Trek: The Original Series
Prime Directive
Starfleet's most sacred commandment has been violated. Its most honored captain is in disgrace, its most celebrated starship in pieces, and the crew of that ship scattered among the thousand worlds of the Federation...
Thus begins Prime Directive, an epic tale of the Star Trek® universe. Following in the bestselling tradition of Spock's World and The Lost Years, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have crafted a thrilling tale of mystery and wonder, a novel that takes the Star Trek characters from the depths of despair into an electrifying new adventure that spans the galaxy.
Journey with Spock, McCoy, and the rest of the former crew of the Starship Enterprise™ to Talin—the planet where their careers ended. A world once teeming with life that now lies ruined, its cities turned to ashes, its surface devastated by a radioactive firestorm—because of their actions. There, they must find out how—and why—this tragedy occurred and discover what has become of their captain.
Thus begins Prime Directive, an epic tale of the Star Trek® universe. Following in the bestselling tradition of Spock's World and The Lost Years, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have crafted a thrilling tale of mystery and wonder, a novel that takes the Star Trek characters from the depths of despair into an electrifying new adventure that spans the galaxy.
Journey with Spock, McCoy, and the rest of the former crew of the Starship Enterprise™ to Talin—the planet where their careers ended. A world once teeming with life that now lies ruined, its cities turned to ashes, its surface devastated by a radioactive firestorm—because of their actions. There, they must find out how—and why—this tragedy occurred and discover what has become of their captain.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
January 6, 2016
Extraordinary!!!
READER'S LOG
This is one of the best Star Trek novels that I ever read and easily the best one using only the crew of The Original Series, without counting crossovers novels.
I know that I need to read more books centering on the original crew, however, this novel Prime Directive will keep a place in the highest levels on my own personal Trek ranking ever.
A masterpiece written by the couple, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.
They crafted an intriguing mystery since the story began with the careers of the entire crew ruined but you don't know what happened, and along the narrative, you not only get to know what they are doing in the "present" of the story but also you will starting to get the whole picture of the disaster that happened in the "past" of the story and why the crew fell from grace.
I like a lot not only the scope of the story but also that instead of the usual formula in many of the TV episodes of The Original Series where only Kirk, Spock and McCoy get to do the important stuff, here, the rest of the main crew, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov and even Chapel, have pivotal roles in the developing of the story.
The whole crew has an interesting part in the story, not only on the "present", but also in the "past" and of course, in the "third act" where they going to work together to resolve the mystery behind on the disastrous way that their Starfleet careers ended.
READER'S LOG - SUPPLEMENTAL
The story is set in the chronology of The Original Series between the end of the first 5-year mission and before the adventures pictured on The Animated Series, so you will get references about key situations and characters along the original run of the series but don't get intimidated if you don't much about it, if you do, you will enjoy it a lot, but if you don't, there aren't references that you need to understand for the current story.
A cool real scientific fact is that in the narrative is told about the discovery of fossilized lifeforms on Mars, and five years later of the original printing of this book, some scientists founded evidence of precisely that in an asteroid believed to be from there.
Another cool fact but about inside of the franchise is that Robert Orci, one of the writers of the film Star Trek of 2009, used scenes of this book for the process of casting actors, due that it's one of his favorite Star Trek novels.
One thing that I liked a lot about the form of writing this book is that the authors established that "starship" wasn't a term that it could apply to any space vessel but a specific term referring only to space cruisers from Starfleet. It's something silly and not important but I liked it.
So, if you want to read a novel from The Original Series with great character developing of the whole crew in an epic mission, definitely this is your book.
READER'S LOG
This is one of the best Star Trek novels that I ever read and easily the best one using only the crew of The Original Series, without counting crossovers novels.
I know that I need to read more books centering on the original crew, however, this novel Prime Directive will keep a place in the highest levels on my own personal Trek ranking ever.
A masterpiece written by the couple, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.
They crafted an intriguing mystery since the story began with the careers of the entire crew ruined but you don't know what happened, and along the narrative, you not only get to know what they are doing in the "present" of the story but also you will starting to get the whole picture of the disaster that happened in the "past" of the story and why the crew fell from grace.
I like a lot not only the scope of the story but also that instead of the usual formula in many of the TV episodes of The Original Series where only Kirk, Spock and McCoy get to do the important stuff, here, the rest of the main crew, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov and even Chapel, have pivotal roles in the developing of the story.
The whole crew has an interesting part in the story, not only on the "present", but also in the "past" and of course, in the "third act" where they going to work together to resolve the mystery behind on the disastrous way that their Starfleet careers ended.
READER'S LOG - SUPPLEMENTAL
The story is set in the chronology of The Original Series between the end of the first 5-year mission and before the adventures pictured on The Animated Series, so you will get references about key situations and characters along the original run of the series but don't get intimidated if you don't much about it, if you do, you will enjoy it a lot, but if you don't, there aren't references that you need to understand for the current story.
A cool real scientific fact is that in the narrative is told about the discovery of fossilized lifeforms on Mars, and five years later of the original printing of this book, some scientists founded evidence of precisely that in an asteroid believed to be from there.
Another cool fact but about inside of the franchise is that Robert Orci, one of the writers of the film Star Trek of 2009, used scenes of this book for the process of casting actors, due that it's one of his favorite Star Trek novels.
One thing that I liked a lot about the form of writing this book is that the authors established that "starship" wasn't a term that it could apply to any space vessel but a specific term referring only to space cruisers from Starfleet. It's something silly and not important but I liked it.
So, if you want to read a novel from The Original Series with great character developing of the whole crew in an epic mission, definitely this is your book.
April 27, 2023
I'm a longtime fan of the Reeves-Stevenses, and it's books like this that made me one. Until recently, I hadn't read one of their novels in a while; now, I think I need to try out my old favorites again.
August 27, 2022
Starfleet’s Prime Directive has been broken, the USS Enterprise is in pieces and her crew spread out among the galaxy. So begins this highly engaging and electrifying novel featuring the original Star Trek cast. Disgraced and banished, the Enterprise crew must find their way back together and solve the mystery of what really happened to cause the destruction of a planet and its inhabitants. Was it truly Kirk’s actions or was something far sinister involved?
January 6, 2023
In the story arc of Star Trek (the original series) the book "Prime Directive" is a seminal story. I am glad to say I have finally been able to add it to my collection.
Talin IV is a world under observation by the Federation. But the residents of Talin IV do not realize this. They haven't yet developed to the point where First Contact can be established and thus the Prime Directive (noninterference policy). The problem is Taliv IV stands on the verge of all out war.
Events occur where the Enterprise is blamed for violating this policy and leading to the destruction of the world. Kirk and his senior staff are kicked out of Starfleet and must try to find out what happened and repair their reputations.
An excellent story. Not only were the events epic, but the mystery of the war was also very interesting. A great Star Trek novel with a good emphasis on First Contact protocols and The Prime Directive that rules all. Highly recommended for Star Trek fans.
Talin IV is a world under observation by the Federation. But the residents of Talin IV do not realize this. They haven't yet developed to the point where First Contact can be established and thus the Prime Directive (noninterference policy). The problem is Taliv IV stands on the verge of all out war.
Events occur where the Enterprise is blamed for violating this policy and leading to the destruction of the world. Kirk and his senior staff are kicked out of Starfleet and must try to find out what happened and repair their reputations.
An excellent story. Not only were the events epic, but the mystery of the war was also very interesting. A great Star Trek novel with a good emphasis on First Contact protocols and The Prime Directive that rules all. Highly recommended for Star Trek fans.
November 6, 2012
I enjoyed the different character's life stories after their mission failed.
November 29, 2009
The Enterprise crew gone rogue, always a winner! These authors OWN the characters' voices, ST canon, and the sensibility of the original series. They're even genius at taking the cheese factor from the show and using it in homage. (Plot holes, Kirk skirt chasing, swashbuckling heroics, laughing on the bridge!) A pleasure to read.
April 21, 2025
Je suis officiellement un Treky!
November 12, 2021
This is the second novel by Canadian couple Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, the fifth or sixth of the larger "unnumbered" novels in the Pocket Books series. I liked it, but didn't love it - 4 of the 5 Star Trek novels I've read recently were better.
All of the main original characters are involved, dealing with a potential Prime Directive violation in their own way. This was interesting, and I liked the differing styles. My favorite was probably Scotty, who found his way around the letter of the law, as it were. While science fiction (or space opera), a sub-genre could be murder mystery, on a massive scale. I can't go further without spoiling it, but I found the ending a little unsatisfying.
Clearly the authors were watching (and or planning to write for) Star Trek: The Next Generation. Kirk muses about adding a bar to the ship, among other things that came to pass. The Kirk I remember wasn't that much of a visionary...
According to Memory-Alpha, the audio version is read by the late James Doohan, and must be abridged, at 2 hours 57 minutes. It would be awesome if somebody read the abridged parts between the narrations, editing it together. Most of the audio versions of Star Trek novels seem to be abridged - this would be a fair amount of work, but would preserve the original novels for that audience.
All of the main original characters are involved, dealing with a potential Prime Directive violation in their own way. This was interesting, and I liked the differing styles. My favorite was probably Scotty, who found his way around the letter of the law, as it were. While science fiction (or space opera), a sub-genre could be murder mystery, on a massive scale. I can't go further without spoiling it, but I found the ending a little unsatisfying.
Clearly the authors were watching (and or planning to write for) Star Trek: The Next Generation. Kirk muses about adding a bar to the ship, among other things that came to pass. The Kirk I remember wasn't that much of a visionary...
According to Memory-Alpha, the audio version is read by the late James Doohan, and must be abridged, at 2 hours 57 minutes. It would be awesome if somebody read the abridged parts between the narrations, editing it together. Most of the audio versions of Star Trek novels seem to be abridged - this would be a fair amount of work, but would preserve the original novels for that audience.
April 16, 2019
What all media tie-ins should aspire to, but so seldom do: Prime Directive doesn't read like a not-ready-for-primetime supplemental installment of a popular television/movie franchise -- a subpar cash-in like the dreadful Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off Slayer (read my review here) -- but a richly realized story in its own right that utilizes and capitalizes on its novelistic medium to boldly go where other iterations of Trek either haven't or can't; that this adventure was written for the page and not the screen is precisely what makes it so compelling and essential, as opposed to the ancillary and utterly noncompulsory experience typically afforded by these kinds of half-baked brand extensions. It should be required reading for all tie-in novelists: This is how you do it.
Star Trek: Prime Directive is an ambitious, nonlinear narrative (before nonlinearity was fashionable) that perfectly captures the tone of the original series, the unique voices and interpersonal dynamics of its characters (you can hear the actors enunciating the dialogue as you read it), and the series' commitment to using science fiction as an intellectual vehicle to explore moral, ethical, and philosophical issues (in contrast with the vacuous Star Wars wannabe and abject exercise in big-budget cosplay the franchise became under J.J. Abrams, or the pointless Easter-egg hunt known as Star Trek: Discovery). This isn't a television-sized adventure padded to fit a novel, but rather a story that was simply too big for any single episode or movie to accommodate (in which each character, it's worth noting, is assigned a valuable role -- a creative feat even the best TV shows and movies all-too-rarely accomplished).
Prime Directive is a (mercifully self-contained) story that forces the crew of the Enterprise to grapple with the ethical and philosophical complexities of their most sacrosanct spacefaring protocol, often invoked on the various television series but little-explored at the time this book was first published in 1990; the story puts a premium on Big Ideas over Big Spectacle (not that suspense is in short supply here!). The authors exploit the broader canvas the prose format offers them to present a nuanced exploration of the Federation's policy of cultural noninterference, yes, but they also use the additional real estate to enrichen the very universe of Trek itself.
For example: Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens spend time detailing how the gravity on alien planets has a visceral effect on the characters -- exactly the kind of nonvisual detail that just gets taken for granted on the show (that every M-class planet has a vaguely similar gravity and everyone can walk around nice and normal), but a novel affords a unique opportunity to depict how subtle gravitational variations from planet to planet make someone feel.
Or consider this passage on pages 49–50:
What seems like a throwaway pair of paragraphs in fact artfully relays so much scientific, historical, and cultural information that would only be implied by production design in the background on TV; it's another one of those little details you never consider when you watch the show -- you're just on an alien world and you don't really give much thought to how cosmic cultural crosspollination might've influenced its aesthetic development (and how misguided that appropriation might've been). How many novelizations or media tie-ins have you read that give such meticulous consideration to the larger sandbox in which they are playing? Most are simply concerned with transcribing the visuals -- of trying in vain to make a literary medium replicate a uniquely cinematic experience -- and cramming in as many too-clever internal cross-references as possible (here's looking at you, Discovery).
Even thirty years later, Prime Directive remains a worthy addition to the Trek canon -- and a great piece of science fiction in its own right, far superior to anything the cinematic/televisional branch of the franchise has produced in two decades -- that deserves to be rediscovered now more than ever, with Star Trek languishing in the custodianship of screenwriters who manifestly don't understand it nearly as well as Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens did. Good for them.
Star Trek: Prime Directive is an ambitious, nonlinear narrative (before nonlinearity was fashionable) that perfectly captures the tone of the original series, the unique voices and interpersonal dynamics of its characters (you can hear the actors enunciating the dialogue as you read it), and the series' commitment to using science fiction as an intellectual vehicle to explore moral, ethical, and philosophical issues (in contrast with the vacuous Star Wars wannabe and abject exercise in big-budget cosplay the franchise became under J.J. Abrams, or the pointless Easter-egg hunt known as Star Trek: Discovery). This isn't a television-sized adventure padded to fit a novel, but rather a story that was simply too big for any single episode or movie to accommodate (in which each character, it's worth noting, is assigned a valuable role -- a creative feat even the best TV shows and movies all-too-rarely accomplished).
Prime Directive is a (mercifully self-contained) story that forces the crew of the Enterprise to grapple with the ethical and philosophical complexities of their most sacrosanct spacefaring protocol, often invoked on the various television series but little-explored at the time this book was first published in 1990; the story puts a premium on Big Ideas over Big Spectacle (not that suspense is in short supply here!). The authors exploit the broader canvas the prose format offers them to present a nuanced exploration of the Federation's policy of cultural noninterference, yes, but they also use the additional real estate to enrichen the very universe of Trek itself.
For example: Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens spend time detailing how the gravity on alien planets has a visceral effect on the characters -- exactly the kind of nonvisual detail that just gets taken for granted on the show (that every M-class planet has a vaguely similar gravity and everyone can walk around nice and normal), but a novel affords a unique opportunity to depict how subtle gravitational variations from planet to planet make someone feel.
Or consider this passage on pages 49–50:
The Starfleet Lunar Hall of Justice in Oceanview was one of those peculiar government buildings that seemed to have no particular style, other than a quest for monumentalism. It was close to a century old and had been built in the twilight of Earth's cultural fascination with anything Centauran. Unfortunately, the fact that it had been built on the Moon under natural gravity -- long since augmented to Earth normal throughout the city's business sections -- had inspired the architects to alter the proportions of loadbearing arches whose original graceful dimensions had been dictated by a more massive planet. In addition, the building's airy roof gardens were situated five meters beneath the inner surface of a dingy green pressure dome instead of under spacious blue skies, further removing it from the Centauran ideals of open post-harmony defensism.
McCoy stood in the plaza before the ungainly structure, wondering how anyone could have become enamored of an architectural style that had arisen on a world where people spent most of their time burying things underground so they couldn't be detected by hypothetical enemies from space. That cultural paranoia, supported by fiber optic data transmission that prevented stray radiation from leaking out into space, had kept Earth's first expedition to another star from discovering there was an inhabited, technologically advanced civilization virtually next door until the first shuttles were almost ready to land. The members of the Federation are all so eager to find new life and new civilizations, McCoy thought, but when we find it, none of us wants to go first. Maybe that was the real reason for what had happened on Talin: not that Kirk had been engaged in brash adventurism, but that everyone else involved, including the First Contact Office, had been too cautious.
What seems like a throwaway pair of paragraphs in fact artfully relays so much scientific, historical, and cultural information that would only be implied by production design in the background on TV; it's another one of those little details you never consider when you watch the show -- you're just on an alien world and you don't really give much thought to how cosmic cultural crosspollination might've influenced its aesthetic development (and how misguided that appropriation might've been). How many novelizations or media tie-ins have you read that give such meticulous consideration to the larger sandbox in which they are playing? Most are simply concerned with transcribing the visuals -- of trying in vain to make a literary medium replicate a uniquely cinematic experience -- and cramming in as many too-clever internal cross-references as possible (here's looking at you, Discovery).
Even thirty years later, Prime Directive remains a worthy addition to the Trek canon -- and a great piece of science fiction in its own right, far superior to anything the cinematic/televisional branch of the franchise has produced in two decades -- that deserves to be rediscovered now more than ever, with Star Trek languishing in the custodianship of screenwriters who manifestly don't understand it nearly as well as Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens did. Good for them.
November 29, 2022
Prime Directive came out a bit after my primary era of reading Trek novels, money was tighter, and there were just too many coming out. But, it got a fairly good marketing push at the time, as one of the early (third, I think) hardcover novels. I have to say the current cover is much better than the original hardcover version.
So, we get a bit of a confused opening, as the action is over, and the crew of the Enterprise has been scattered in disgrace for a violation of the Prime Directive that ended in the type of disaster it was designed to prevent: a dead world. Most of the bridge crew has resigned, Uhura is under court martial, Bones hit an admiral... and the Enterprise is a wreck in orbit around a moon, with one warp engine having been ejected, and the other ruined and evaporating, possibly into subspace.
A common idea in SF for various FTL drives is that they can't be used too close to the gravity field of a large body; either it's impossible, or there is a great chance of something going wrong (like going to Pluto when you meant to go to the Moon, and your FTL drive disappearing in the process). Star Trek has been largely silent on the subject, implying that any such trouble is fairly minimal at most. But here its assumed that it's not mentioned because everyone knows not to do it—and the Enterprise is now the first ship to survive the attempt.
Once the stage is set, we get an extended flashback to the mission that caused all this. This gives us a look at how the Federation works to obey its own Prime Directive while studying developing worlds. There's some interesting bits showing how the inevitable slip-ups are generally accounted for. In fact, this section is generally well done, and would make a good, if not great, novel even without the tension of the coming disaster looming over it.
Star Trek at its non-philosophical best can deliver mysteries. Not necessarily murder mysteries, but related, where the plot and action are bent towards figuring out just what is really going on, what is our limited human viewpoint missing, and how to bring a solution to bear to what has been learned. The bulk of this novel is exactly this. Even before disaster, it is obvious that something is not right in the Talin system, and the desire to delve deeper helps the pages fly by.
A bit of expectation setting/trivia: The intro to the novel firmly says this is set during the final year of the original five-year mission. I was wondering, with all the dramatic career bits here, if it was intended to be the end of the mission and the reason for Enterprise's refit. No, an early novel claimed that bit of the timeline, and the Reeves-Stevens respect that claim. Current fan theory likes to instead place the novel a year earlier, and use it to explain some changes in the bridge crew and small differences in the bridge in The Animated Series.
The worst problem is that after the highly public nature of events depicted here, it's hard to imagine everyone picking up right where they left off, set for another adventure without acknowledging this one. Outside of that, this is a good, gripping Star Trek novel, and well recommended. At some point, I'm going to have to read Federation (which was the novel the authors originally pitched for this publication slot, but Paramount took years to be talked into it).
So, we get a bit of a confused opening, as the action is over, and the crew of the Enterprise has been scattered in disgrace for a violation of the Prime Directive that ended in the type of disaster it was designed to prevent: a dead world. Most of the bridge crew has resigned, Uhura is under court martial, Bones hit an admiral... and the Enterprise is a wreck in orbit around a moon, with one warp engine having been ejected, and the other ruined and evaporating, possibly into subspace.
A common idea in SF for various FTL drives is that they can't be used too close to the gravity field of a large body; either it's impossible, or there is a great chance of something going wrong (like going to Pluto when you meant to go to the Moon, and your FTL drive disappearing in the process). Star Trek has been largely silent on the subject, implying that any such trouble is fairly minimal at most. But here its assumed that it's not mentioned because everyone knows not to do it—and the Enterprise is now the first ship to survive the attempt.
Once the stage is set, we get an extended flashback to the mission that caused all this. This gives us a look at how the Federation works to obey its own Prime Directive while studying developing worlds. There's some interesting bits showing how the inevitable slip-ups are generally accounted for. In fact, this section is generally well done, and would make a good, if not great, novel even without the tension of the coming disaster looming over it.
Star Trek at its non-philosophical best can deliver mysteries. Not necessarily murder mysteries, but related, where the plot and action are bent towards figuring out just what is really going on, what is our limited human viewpoint missing, and how to bring a solution to bear to what has been learned. The bulk of this novel is exactly this. Even before disaster, it is obvious that something is not right in the Talin system, and the desire to delve deeper helps the pages fly by.
A bit of expectation setting/trivia: The intro to the novel firmly says this is set during the final year of the original five-year mission. I was wondering, with all the dramatic career bits here, if it was intended to be the end of the mission and the reason for Enterprise's refit. No, an early novel claimed that bit of the timeline, and the Reeves-Stevens respect that claim. Current fan theory likes to instead place the novel a year earlier, and use it to explain some changes in the bridge crew and small differences in the bridge in The Animated Series.
The worst problem is that after the highly public nature of events depicted here, it's hard to imagine everyone picking up right where they left off, set for another adventure without acknowledging this one. Outside of that, this is a good, gripping Star Trek novel, and well recommended. At some point, I'm going to have to read Federation (which was the novel the authors originally pitched for this publication slot, but Paramount took years to be talked into it).
August 9, 2015
This is hands down one of the best Star Trek novels I have ever read and I think even non Star Trek fans would maybe even like it. It's a tight science fiction read that deals with catastrophic consequences but also is a mystery of sorts.
Talin IV is in ruins. A nuclear wasteland and the crew of the Enterprise is at fault. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu (a.k.a. The Enterprise Five) have all resigned over the disgrace of the events and Mr. Scott continues to work to repair the critically damaged Enterprise because his resignation requests are being ignored. Each crew member knows something isn't right about what happened on Talin IV and all feel they owe the planet something for what events did occur.
The Prime Directive is something that we get more exploration in later series but you don't get too much richness of it with the TOS crew. Here we get a study of the Prime Directive and how it works in Federation policy and politics (something this book is really rich in, you get a real feel for the Federation and what 'normal' life can look like) and what happens when the Prime Directive is broken. It is terrifying and fascinating and even though you know better of course you wonder if Kirk and company can pull themselves out of this mess.
Kirk and company are on their own but are working together even if they don't know it too. Each crewmember gets their moment and their own story. You have Kirk hopping from job to job dealing with his own guilt over the events but also his desire to do right, Spock's insanity and dramatics I won't even get into here but they are fabulous, Chekov and Sulu are together as always doing their own work as pirates, Uhura's saga being imprisoned just shows a lot more of Uhura then we usually get from her and McCoy's first appearance in the book in conversation with a kid is really, really eye opening. You actually learn a lot more about everyone in many ways.
It's a tight story, really really tight, and you will tear through this thing if you're left alone with it. I would have gotten through it faster if I hadn't left it at home by accident when I went on vacation. It is a fabulous Star Trek novel. Mystery, politics, friendship/teamwork, humour (it is perfectly placed to in a book that is so severe in subject matter), adventure. Everything to love about Star Trek is here.
Talin IV is in ruins. A nuclear wasteland and the crew of the Enterprise is at fault. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu (a.k.a. The Enterprise Five) have all resigned over the disgrace of the events and Mr. Scott continues to work to repair the critically damaged Enterprise because his resignation requests are being ignored. Each crew member knows something isn't right about what happened on Talin IV and all feel they owe the planet something for what events did occur.
The Prime Directive is something that we get more exploration in later series but you don't get too much richness of it with the TOS crew. Here we get a study of the Prime Directive and how it works in Federation policy and politics (something this book is really rich in, you get a real feel for the Federation and what 'normal' life can look like) and what happens when the Prime Directive is broken. It is terrifying and fascinating and even though you know better of course you wonder if Kirk and company can pull themselves out of this mess.
Kirk and company are on their own but are working together even if they don't know it too. Each crewmember gets their moment and their own story. You have Kirk hopping from job to job dealing with his own guilt over the events but also his desire to do right, Spock's insanity and dramatics I won't even get into here but they are fabulous, Chekov and Sulu are together as always doing their own work as pirates, Uhura's saga being imprisoned just shows a lot more of Uhura then we usually get from her and McCoy's first appearance in the book in conversation with a kid is really, really eye opening. You actually learn a lot more about everyone in many ways.
It's a tight story, really really tight, and you will tear through this thing if you're left alone with it. I would have gotten through it faster if I hadn't left it at home by accident when I went on vacation. It is a fabulous Star Trek novel. Mystery, politics, friendship/teamwork, humour (it is perfectly placed to in a book that is so severe in subject matter), adventure. Everything to love about Star Trek is here.
August 9, 2021
Judith and Garfield once again show why they are one of the strongest Trek writing teams. Great story and spot on charactisaton. A thoroughly well rounded and paced story.
June 16, 2015
My first outing with the Star Trek franchise was a fruitful one. I've been hearing about this book for years. I finally picked it up. In a franchise that literally puts out a novel a month, this books still stands out. It had a perfect feeling of balance. Humor and actual science fiction. Character and action. It's a can't miss.
August 26, 2009
This is one of my all-time favorite Star Trek novels. I've read it, oh, maybe 10 times? Maybe more? I savor it every time. I love the details and the portrayal of the characters, and the plot's good too.
September 24, 2008
This book is my favorite among the Star Trek derivatives. It is one that can be read countless times. If you are a fan of Star Trek the original series this is a must read.
January 18, 2019
3.5 stars. Pretty good ST TOS story, and audio narration by James Doohan, AKA Scotty was a nice bonus.
September 4, 2020
So far, this is my favorite Star Trek novel. It's really that good. Sad to imagine how many years the paperback was just lying in a box under my parents' house waiting to be read!
It is great for the following reasons:
1) Based on some good, hard sci-fi ideas.
2) Couched in a great in-universe Trek plotline that ought to be explored more often (the prime directive).
3) The classic characters are absolutely intact and authentically-rendered.
4) Entertaining, easy, well-paced read.
5) The story is epic and inspiring without being cheesy, and captures the most charming aspects of what made classic Trek and its characters special.
The hard science fiction aspect of this book relates directly to a grander, more philosophical conceit, and that deeper philosophical concept is pretty fascinating. It's also one that's fraught with spoiler-i-ness, so I'll try to be vague here. The book raises questions about a demoralizing truth of human nature: our tendency toward political friction and military solutions to problems, especially violent ones. Where does the intrinsic human desire for violence end, and the devil's handiwork begin? The book's answers are both troubling and a source of comfort. These concepts all function on multiple levels, both in-universe and real-world, as all good sci-fi should.
On a specific, Trek-specific level, the story is also quite special for how it deals directly with the time-honored ideal of the so-called "Prime Directive," usually referred to as the most important aspect of Starfleet's "General Order One." In this novel, the crew of the Enterprise is forced to interfere with a relatively primitive society on a planet called Talin VI with the best of intentions...with unthinkably disastrous results. At the start of Prime Directive, Kirk and his entire bridge crew have been forced to resign from Starfleet in disgrace.
The story is told in parts, the first part being the sad aftermath of the tragedy at Talin IV, during which we see the main characters ambling around in shame and righteous indignation at how the episode has been dealt with by Starfleet and the Federation Council. The second part is, in effect, a flashback wherein Kirk recalls the events that led him to his forced resignation and humiliation. Part three sees the crew reunited fighting for the truth, wraps up the mystery and answers important questions. A very brief fourth part functions as a sort of denouement.
Dealing with the Prime Directive is a lofty endeavor and this book is extremely successful in doing so. It highlights the most extreme indictment of the Directive's potential short-sightedness: an inclination to passively look on as a sentient race is in distress and dying, all under the guise of following orders. To pit Kirk and company against it is a match made in heaven, since Kirk as a character has always been synonymous with spontaneity and proactive humanitarianism, sidestepping bureaucratic niceties like rules and regulations when necessary to save lives, and his crew has always been famously loyal to him. If anyone is gonna get in trouble for ignoring the Prime Directive, Kirk's the guy. Facing the likelihood of an entire planet's destruction is an effective argument for calling Starfleet's golden rule into question, and it bolsters the validity of the impulsive decisions captains like Kirk are prone to making--while also raising some interesting questions about charity and humanitarianism in our own world.
The characters in this novel are extremely true to their most canonical portrayals throughout Trek, both on television and in film. Getting these iconic heroes just right is often my biggest complaint with Trek tie-ins, but Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens know them like family, and each and every one speaks in a voice that feels consistent and authentic. It's easy to image Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, Doohan, Koenig, Takei, and Nichols speaking these lines and living out these scenarios.
The writing is, on the whole, serviceable if not exactly inspiring. I've yet to read a Trek novel with a high standard for beautiful prose, as lyrical language is not really a priority for these novels (but it would be nice if it were). There are some anachronisms, like the mention of people running around with stacks of paper documents to sign, and an unfortunate use of the phrase "oriental woman." But that said, the Reeves-Stevenses are much more adept at painting a picture and getting into the minds of their characters than some other Trek novelists out there (cough cough, L.A. Graf, cough), and the pacing is good. I thought the various story threads were woven together well and the action was fun to read, easy to envision. It's always a good time when reading a Trek novel to get scenes depicting zero gravity, as that sort of thing was generally far beyond the limits of what could be accomplished on screen in the first five series.
If you were only ever going to read one Trek novel, this would be my pick. It contains some intriguing, original, hard sci-fi ideas. The characters are written as true to canon as could be. But perhaps most importantly, it highlights the charisma, empathy, heroism, and camaraderie of the main characters beautifully, in a plot line that is tailor-made for celebrating what makes that classic crew so special. The breakdown and eventual rebuild of their morale is inspiring, and the framing convention of mankind's instinctual dream of exploring the stars is made romantic and beautiful without seeming maudlin.
I would happily recommend this novel to anyone who is an ardent fan of classic Trek, and furthermore to anyone who likes the franchise and enjoys reading. I haven't read a huge assortment of them yet, but I've read a few, and thus far I can say with conviction that Prime Directive is the strongest novel I've read in the franchise.
It is great for the following reasons:
1) Based on some good, hard sci-fi ideas.
2) Couched in a great in-universe Trek plotline that ought to be explored more often (the prime directive).
3) The classic characters are absolutely intact and authentically-rendered.
4) Entertaining, easy, well-paced read.
5) The story is epic and inspiring without being cheesy, and captures the most charming aspects of what made classic Trek and its characters special.
The hard science fiction aspect of this book relates directly to a grander, more philosophical conceit, and that deeper philosophical concept is pretty fascinating. It's also one that's fraught with spoiler-i-ness, so I'll try to be vague here. The book raises questions about a demoralizing truth of human nature: our tendency toward political friction and military solutions to problems, especially violent ones. Where does the intrinsic human desire for violence end, and the devil's handiwork begin? The book's answers are both troubling and a source of comfort. These concepts all function on multiple levels, both in-universe and real-world, as all good sci-fi should.
On a specific, Trek-specific level, the story is also quite special for how it deals directly with the time-honored ideal of the so-called "Prime Directive," usually referred to as the most important aspect of Starfleet's "General Order One." In this novel, the crew of the Enterprise is forced to interfere with a relatively primitive society on a planet called Talin VI with the best of intentions...with unthinkably disastrous results. At the start of Prime Directive, Kirk and his entire bridge crew have been forced to resign from Starfleet in disgrace.
The story is told in parts, the first part being the sad aftermath of the tragedy at Talin IV, during which we see the main characters ambling around in shame and righteous indignation at how the episode has been dealt with by Starfleet and the Federation Council. The second part is, in effect, a flashback wherein Kirk recalls the events that led him to his forced resignation and humiliation. Part three sees the crew reunited fighting for the truth, wraps up the mystery and answers important questions. A very brief fourth part functions as a sort of denouement.
Dealing with the Prime Directive is a lofty endeavor and this book is extremely successful in doing so. It highlights the most extreme indictment of the Directive's potential short-sightedness: an inclination to passively look on as a sentient race is in distress and dying, all under the guise of following orders. To pit Kirk and company against it is a match made in heaven, since Kirk as a character has always been synonymous with spontaneity and proactive humanitarianism, sidestepping bureaucratic niceties like rules and regulations when necessary to save lives, and his crew has always been famously loyal to him. If anyone is gonna get in trouble for ignoring the Prime Directive, Kirk's the guy. Facing the likelihood of an entire planet's destruction is an effective argument for calling Starfleet's golden rule into question, and it bolsters the validity of the impulsive decisions captains like Kirk are prone to making--while also raising some interesting questions about charity and humanitarianism in our own world.
The characters in this novel are extremely true to their most canonical portrayals throughout Trek, both on television and in film. Getting these iconic heroes just right is often my biggest complaint with Trek tie-ins, but Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens know them like family, and each and every one speaks in a voice that feels consistent and authentic. It's easy to image Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, Doohan, Koenig, Takei, and Nichols speaking these lines and living out these scenarios.
The writing is, on the whole, serviceable if not exactly inspiring. I've yet to read a Trek novel with a high standard for beautiful prose, as lyrical language is not really a priority for these novels (but it would be nice if it were). There are some anachronisms, like the mention of people running around with stacks of paper documents to sign, and an unfortunate use of the phrase "oriental woman." But that said, the Reeves-Stevenses are much more adept at painting a picture and getting into the minds of their characters than some other Trek novelists out there (cough cough, L.A. Graf, cough), and the pacing is good. I thought the various story threads were woven together well and the action was fun to read, easy to envision. It's always a good time when reading a Trek novel to get scenes depicting zero gravity, as that sort of thing was generally far beyond the limits of what could be accomplished on screen in the first five series.
If you were only ever going to read one Trek novel, this would be my pick. It contains some intriguing, original, hard sci-fi ideas. The characters are written as true to canon as could be. But perhaps most importantly, it highlights the charisma, empathy, heroism, and camaraderie of the main characters beautifully, in a plot line that is tailor-made for celebrating what makes that classic crew so special. The breakdown and eventual rebuild of their morale is inspiring, and the framing convention of mankind's instinctual dream of exploring the stars is made romantic and beautiful without seeming maudlin.
I would happily recommend this novel to anyone who is an ardent fan of classic Trek, and furthermore to anyone who likes the franchise and enjoys reading. I haven't read a huge assortment of them yet, but I've read a few, and thus far I can say with conviction that Prime Directive is the strongest novel I've read in the franchise.
September 19, 2021
It's probably only a 3.5, but it's too good for just a 3.
A rollicking ride through the Star Trek universe, the book gives you everything you might want from a classic TOS story. It truly checks all of the boxes, including giving ample time to all of the main cast.
Through a series of tragic events, it appears that Captain Kirk and the Enterprise have undermined the most important rule in Starfleet. Not only did he expose an under-developed world to the existence of higher technology before its inhabitants were ready, but he also caused catastrophic harm to the planet itself. The crux of the book then swirls around discovering exactly what happened so that the disgraced crew can be exonerated.
It's quite fun seeing everyone outside of their normal environs, including Sulu and Chekov sign on with Orion pirates. The highlight might be watching Scott navigate life under a pompous bureaucrat as he works to rebuild the Enterprise in hopes the rest of the crew can solve the mystery of what happened. And it wouldn't truly be a Star Trek book without coming into contact with aliens and technology that are well outside of their expertise and experience.
It might not be a classic Trek book, but it's a pretty good one - and I needed the mental break from some of the weightier stuff I've read this month.
A rollicking ride through the Star Trek universe, the book gives you everything you might want from a classic TOS story. It truly checks all of the boxes, including giving ample time to all of the main cast.
Through a series of tragic events, it appears that Captain Kirk and the Enterprise have undermined the most important rule in Starfleet. Not only did he expose an under-developed world to the existence of higher technology before its inhabitants were ready, but he also caused catastrophic harm to the planet itself. The crux of the book then swirls around discovering exactly what happened so that the disgraced crew can be exonerated.
It's quite fun seeing everyone outside of their normal environs, including Sulu and Chekov sign on with Orion pirates. The highlight might be watching Scott navigate life under a pompous bureaucrat as he works to rebuild the Enterprise in hopes the rest of the crew can solve the mystery of what happened. And it wouldn't truly be a Star Trek book without coming into contact with aliens and technology that are well outside of their expertise and experience.
It might not be a classic Trek book, but it's a pretty good one - and I needed the mental break from some of the weightier stuff I've read this month.
September 28, 2021
Ok…. Genocide a bit trivialized and I think the author wanted to make you not hate the “bad” ones. For me, get some courage like with the Borg. It is ok to not like some aliens. It was ok, moved a bit fast, but I still enjoyed it.
May 26, 2022
This was surprisingly good. One of the best TV/movie tie-ins I've ever read.
December 1, 2024
As far as the book is concerned, it's a well done science fiction tale, and addresses several tenants of the famous/infamous Prime Directive of the United Federation of Planets in the "Star Trek" universe. As a part of "Star Trek" canon, it is impossible to see this as something which could have happened with Captain Kirk and his crew. If you can be a good sport, and not be a toxic Trekkie then this is a fun book which you can read and completely enjoy.
July 19, 2025
Talin IV, non-Federation member is destroyed by Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. Now no longer Starfleet can they the 'Enterprise Five' redeem themselves and discover the truth.
An entertaining and well-written story. A re-read.
An entertaining and well-written story. A re-read.
September 11, 2014
If the rating system here on Goodreads allowed for half or quarter ratings, I would rate this novel 3.5 stars. I did not want to give it the full four stars, merely because the parts I really liked did not come to fruition until the last fourth of the book.
As stated in other reviews I have written, I love Star Trek fiction. There is something beautiful about expanding and conceiving anew for characters, plot lines, and universes of TV shows, books, and/or movies that have already been established. Fans, more often than not, can oftentimes be so devoted to particular fandoms that they end up contributing a plethora of new, impressive facets to the fandoms' brilliant crystal. (Wow, that was a really horrible metaphor...)
Prime Directive certainly contributes to that marvelous pool that is the extended universe of Star Trek. Taking place in the final year of the Enterprise's original five-year mission, the novel centers on the now-mangled starship's scattered crew, all struggling to recover from the unanticipated disaster that nearly obliterated an entire world. Uhura went to prison, and Captain Kirk, Science Officer Spock, Chief Medical Officer McCoy, and Helmsmen Chekov and Sulu all resigned from Starfleet. Chief Engineer Scotty remains on the Enterprise, trying to coax her back to life. Talin IV, the planet they had been tasked with observing — and not to interfere with — remains a scorched ball of rock, annihilated by the indigenous species' nuclear war...and Starfleet blames the command of the Enterprise for violating their ultimate principle: the Prime Directive.
This novel did not really become engaging until Kirk began recounting the events that occurred on Talin IV, which happens in "Part Two" of the book. Prior to that, however, I was spurred on by unanswered questions: Why was Talin IV before referred to as Kirk's World? Why had Uhura been sent to prison? Why did Chekov and Sulu join an Orion pirate ship? Why does everyone, sans his crew, seem to hate Kirk?
Luckily, all these questions were answered in time, and no loose ends were left by the end of the novel. There were instances where I felt horrified by what had happened on the planet, as well as how the species on the planet barely survived. Mostly, I was eager to find out how the Enterprise crew would come out the other side of the whole ordeal; I expected them to be rather unscathed, but I was pleasantly surprised that they had taken a beating from every conceivable side. It was not the typical experience they, and we fans, had ever endured before.
The ending startled me. I had not considered the explanation that became the root cause for the incidents on Talin IV; the idea had never crossed my mind, although it had certainly crossed Doctor McCoy's at the beginning of the story. I cannot say I was disappointed, however; the Reeves-Stevens have proved once again that they are devoted fans of the show, and that they are willing to craft intelligent, engaging plots that only further the characterization, and exploits, of the original Enterprise crew.
As stated in other reviews I have written, I love Star Trek fiction. There is something beautiful about expanding and conceiving anew for characters, plot lines, and universes of TV shows, books, and/or movies that have already been established. Fans, more often than not, can oftentimes be so devoted to particular fandoms that they end up contributing a plethora of new, impressive facets to the fandoms' brilliant crystal. (Wow, that was a really horrible metaphor...)
Prime Directive certainly contributes to that marvelous pool that is the extended universe of Star Trek. Taking place in the final year of the Enterprise's original five-year mission, the novel centers on the now-mangled starship's scattered crew, all struggling to recover from the unanticipated disaster that nearly obliterated an entire world. Uhura went to prison, and Captain Kirk, Science Officer Spock, Chief Medical Officer McCoy, and Helmsmen Chekov and Sulu all resigned from Starfleet. Chief Engineer Scotty remains on the Enterprise, trying to coax her back to life. Talin IV, the planet they had been tasked with observing — and not to interfere with — remains a scorched ball of rock, annihilated by the indigenous species' nuclear war...and Starfleet blames the command of the Enterprise for violating their ultimate principle: the Prime Directive.
This novel did not really become engaging until Kirk began recounting the events that occurred on Talin IV, which happens in "Part Two" of the book. Prior to that, however, I was spurred on by unanswered questions: Why was Talin IV before referred to as Kirk's World? Why had Uhura been sent to prison? Why did Chekov and Sulu join an Orion pirate ship? Why does everyone, sans his crew, seem to hate Kirk?
Luckily, all these questions were answered in time, and no loose ends were left by the end of the novel. There were instances where I felt horrified by what had happened on the planet, as well as how the species on the planet barely survived. Mostly, I was eager to find out how the Enterprise crew would come out the other side of the whole ordeal; I expected them to be rather unscathed, but I was pleasantly surprised that they had taken a beating from every conceivable side. It was not the typical experience they, and we fans, had ever endured before.
The ending startled me. I had not considered the explanation that became the root cause for the incidents on Talin IV; the idea had never crossed my mind, although it had certainly crossed Doctor McCoy's at the beginning of the story. I cannot say I was disappointed, however; the Reeves-Stevens have proved once again that they are devoted fans of the show, and that they are willing to craft intelligent, engaging plots that only further the characterization, and exploits, of the original Enterprise crew.
June 25, 2015
In this, my second foray into the realm of written Trek, I found myself very engaged. The voices of the characters felt quite faithful (although I had a few problems with Spock and sometimes Kirk--if I were to nitpick), the prose was wonderful and it felt like a perfect mixture of TOS and TOS movies. The additional characters were fun to read and the story itself really popped.
Without giving too much away, it was a unique but familiar revisit to a much missed franchise. I highly recommend it to fans of the show (there's more than one nod to TOS episodes and embryonic similarites to the TV show the two authors would be hired to one day shake up--the final season of Enterprise).
Without giving too much away, it was a unique but familiar revisit to a much missed franchise. I highly recommend it to fans of the show (there's more than one nod to TOS episodes and embryonic similarites to the TV show the two authors would be hired to one day shake up--the final season of Enterprise).
November 28, 2020
One of the best Star Trek TOS novels, this one has a solid plot, well-written characters, and some memorable scenes. What I like most about it is that it's not another generic space adventure, but a heart-touching story about the mysteries of the galaxy and how they are intertwined with our life. I find the second half of the novel especially page-turning, and the unraveling of the nuclear attack is gratifying, for it demonstrates that despite humans' search for knowledge, there are things in the universe that remain terrifying, enigmatic, and perplexing to us still.
4.25/5
4.25/5
Read
August 4, 2011I heard a rumor that this might be the plot for the next Star Trek movie. It was excellent! I do not read Star Trek books as a rule, but I'm really glad I read this one. It was actually a really good mystery. The final reveal of what happened on Talin IV was very Star Trek. I would recommend this book!
January 9, 2016
Solid entertainment, amusing, and well read--if a bit predictable.
July 31, 2025
In my experience, Star Trek novels fit into two categories. You have the more by-the-numbers titles, such as The Kobayashi Maru, Death Count, or Yesterday’s Son which feel like extended episodes of the show. Conversely, novels like The Pandora Principle or my latest read, The Prime Directive, feel like bonafide films in the Star Trek canon. In The Prime Directive, the crew of the Enterprise is split up. Following several events and incidents involving the Enterprise and an uncontacted, fledgling alien world, the planet is left devastated by nuclear war, and Captain James T. Kirk is singled as responsible for the deaths of billions. What follows is a dual tale, both in the events that led to the planet’s devastation, and the efforts after the fact of the Enterprise crew to return to the now-dead world and clear their names. It’s a story of both scale and drama that eclipses anything that occurred in the original series of Star Trek, and the book has an innate grandeur to it to match. With just a bit more focus, I genuinely could’ve put this down as the best Star Trek book I’ve read thus far, but what we have, warts and all, are still nothing short of great at worst, and fantastic at its very best. The Prime Directive, simply put, is largely a fantastic piece of science fiction, to say nothing of its quality as a Star Trek novel, some of which occasionally can feel a bit like a disposable piece of fiction.
Much of the book follows a multitude of different storylines as the crew of the Enterprise attempt to clear their names in various fashions, and whilst Kirk, Spock, and Scotty’s storylines are genuinely fantastic, the others suffer from lingering issues. McCoy and Uhura’s role in the book is fairly minimal, as they vanish from events (albeit for reasonable reasons) for much of the book, whilst Sulu and Chekov’s attempts to commandeer a Rigelian slave ship just meanders a bit too much for my liking.
But Kirk’s dedication to return to Talin IV, Spock’s politicking back on Earth, and Scotty’s attempts to repair and hold onto the damaged Enterprise for the absent Kirk are all incredibly engaging and page-turners in their own right. The Reeves-Stevens, in particular, have a very strong grasp on Spock’s character, as his deadpan reactions and subtle emotions and desires bleed through the page wonderfully. The book really gets to the heart of Kirk’s ideals and love of the universe and what he does, beautifully captured in an epilogue that is both brief and poignant.
But it’s events, both past and present, that center geographically around the now-devastated world of Talin IV that are the real star of the show. The slow descent into destruction that makes up the book’s second act is some of the tensest writing I've ever seen in Star Trek, both on the page and on film. Reading as Kirk and co. witness the Cold War-esque situation escalate across Talin IV, already knowing the result is stress-inducing and chilling in tandem. The book’s final fifty pages which reveal the truths behind the nuclear exchange that devastates the planet, whilst perhaps coming a little too quickly for my liking, are filled with genuinely brilliant reveals and are great examples of the cosmic weirdness that’s inherent to Star Trek. The ending is perhaps a little *too* convenient, but considering the level of devastation and death already presented in the second act, a happy ending isn’t too much out of the question. This isn’t Deep Space Nine, after all.
But for the most part, The Prime Directive is fantastic, with its blockbuster setting and deeply personal storylines. It’s not the very best science fiction or Star Trek novels have on offer, but if you’re a fan of either, I think you’d be remiss to not check out The Prime Directive.
July 15, 2025
My interest in Star Trek has wavered on and off since I first watched The Original Series in the 1970s. I am a big science fiction fan, and I especially enjoy scientifically minded authors in the genre like Greg Egan, Ted Chiang, Stephen Baxter, Philip K. Dick, Stanley G. Weinbaum, and Arthur C. Clarke. Thus, I don’t dig old Trek episodes featuring Abraham Lincoln floating in outer space, Captain Kirk acting like a horse, time travel, and omnipotent, godlike aliens, all of which exemplify a very common and unscientific type of sci-fi.
More than twenty years ago, the Babylon 5 series reignited my interest in exploring science fiction television shows, including Star Trek. I’ve now seen all of The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, most of Strange New Worlds and Voyager, some of Prodigy, a bunch of fan films, and I intend to watch the remaining canon, including Discovery and Lower Decks. Despite the mostly poor final season of The Original Series, and the very, very shaky first two seasons of The Next Generation, I’ve enjoyed hundreds of the 600+ Star Trek episodes I've watched, and I accept my Trekkie status. That said, I still don’t like the godlike aliens nor most of the stories dealing with time travel (Deep Space Nine’s ‘Children of Time’ is a magnificent exception), nor do I care for the mirror universe concept nor most of the religious digressions. I best enjoy scientific inquiries occurring during space explorations rather than military drama, though I’ve seen a handful of great war-focused episodes in the franchise (Deep Space Nine’s ‘Duet’ is one of the best episodes in the history of television, and ‘In the Pale Moonlight’ is also excellent.)
I enjoy the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy dynamic on The Original Series, and like about half of the episodes from that 1960s run, which established a number of good things, but also popularized time travel, omnipotent beings, and parallel universes. I accept but don’t like the use of magic wand-like transporters, which regularly kill dramatic tension by providing easy ways out of peril (thus they are often arbitrarily “down”or not functioning or blocked), and I feel this technology makes little scientific sense: Dispersing humans into subatomic particles (a.k.a. murder), flinging them through solids and across space, and then reassembling these luminous puddles across vast distances. Even ‘The Fly’ (1958) required a secondary unit to receive and reassemble the atomized (dead) subjects. And yeah, the abundance of humanoid aliens in Star Trek I accept as conceit that made a live-action television production possible in the 1960s and led to more anthropological extrapolations rather than xenobiological ones. (Plus those Michael Westmore-designed alien prosthetics became quite spectacular during Deep Space Nine and Enterprise.) So although I’m a Trekkie, I have perhaps more nitpicks than the average…
I do feel some good science fiction appeared in that initial 1960s run—I really dig ‘A Taste of Armageddon,’ ‘The Doomsday Machine,’ ‘Metamorphosis,’ ‘The Changeling,’ ‘The Devil in the Dark,’ ‘The Trouble with Tribbles,’ and twoscore others to a lesser degree. And although ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ isn’t especially well-liked by Trekkies, it is a great sense-of-wonder science fiction spectacle beautifully aided by visuals crafted by special effects maestro Douglas Trumbull, an innovator behind my all-time favorite movie, ‘2001.’ The smartly written fan film ‘What Ships Are For’ (in Star Trek Continues) also outshines the majority of episodes made for The Original Series.
500+ episodes deep into my exploration of Star Trek, I finally read my first Star Trek book. I did some real research prior to deciding which one to buy, for there seem to be an astonishing 800+ books set in this universe related to the various television series. Many, many, many writers have written for the shows and books under this famous aegis, including hard science fiction authors such as Greg Bear, Joe Haldeman, and Larry Niven, and I knew different takes on this intellectual property were plentiful. My research led me to start with Diane Duane’s highly regarded best seller ‘Spock’s World.’ I was quite impressed with the thoughtful, literary quality of her writing, which compares in some ways to Ursula K. Le Guin’s. The cosmologically detailed formation of planet Vulcan and the pre-language sequences depicting primitive cave Vulcans communicating (poorly) with telepathy and learning about their world were quite compelling, and the history of Surak, the Vulcan philosopher, was quite engaging. That book is recommended to fans of The Original Series who want to read a story featuring those familiar characters and gain a broader historical perspective about Vulcans.
‘Prime Directive’ by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens is my second Star Trek novel, a book I’d recommend to fans of the show, but also to science fiction fans in general, for it is simply a great science fiction novel whether or not you’re a Trekkie. The story begins with Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov blamed for the destruction of Talin IV, a planet under observation by Starfleet’s First Contact Office, but not yet contacted, because the observed culture is not quite advanced enough to join the Federation of Planets…even though the two dominant cultures on this world are on the brink of nuclear warfare. After an apocalyptic event, the Enterprise (spacecraft) is stuck in orbit with a nacelle (engine) gripped by a warp field that holds the vessel in place while slowly dissolving her mass. The investigations of what occurred on this planet are compelling, intellectually engrossing, and quite complex…and amongst the ‘hardest’ science fiction I’ve come across in the entire Star Trek franchise. Greg Bear’s ‘Forge of God’ and Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ are decent reference points for the type of scientific investigation found in this book. The authors even give some of the magic wand physics (such as warp speed) found in The Original Series a more scientifically grounded touch up. The discussions of the Prime Directive have the moral complexity and philosophical depth of the best TNG, DS9, and Enterprise episodes, and are equally engaging. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and Scotty are written faithfully, which provides some humor and personal drama amidst all of the large-scale scientific and legal inquiries. Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens also spend time detailing how some new spacecrafts function (the anti-gravitic Wraiths are nicely engineered) and even the ethical boundaries of cloning a beloved pet. Plus, there’s an exciting and cleverly staged dogfight between two spacecrafts.
‘Prime Directive’ is a very smart science-fiction mystery with some real tension and many great sense of wonder images, and yet it’s a book that science fiction fans may overlook (or dismiss) because it’s ‘a Star Trek book.’ Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns,’ the ‘Hannibal’ television show, Alan Moore’s run on ‘Swamp Thing,’ Garth Ennis’ ‘Punisher’ MAX series, David Cronenberg’s remake of ‘The Fly,’ and many other works of art prove that subsequent incarnations of established intellectual properties can qualitatively eclipse the original incarnations, and such is the case with ‘Prime Directive,’ a Star Trek story that exceeds the very best shows found in The Original Series and compares to the franchise’s all-time best episodes, gems like ‘Dear Doctor’ and ‘Similitude’ (from Enterprise); ‘The Inner Light,’ ‘The Offspring,’ and ‘Clues’ (from The Next Generation); ‘Duet’ and ‘Children of Time’ (from Deep Space Nine); and ‘Tuvix’ and ‘Distant Origin’ (from Voyager). In this book, authors Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens went cleverly as well as boldly into the cosmic frontier.
(For interested Trekkies: Search for 'Favorite Star Trek episodes and fan films ranked by writer/director S. Craig Zahler' and you'll see a sizable list I've posted on I M D B)
More than twenty years ago, the Babylon 5 series reignited my interest in exploring science fiction television shows, including Star Trek. I’ve now seen all of The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, most of Strange New Worlds and Voyager, some of Prodigy, a bunch of fan films, and I intend to watch the remaining canon, including Discovery and Lower Decks. Despite the mostly poor final season of The Original Series, and the very, very shaky first two seasons of The Next Generation, I’ve enjoyed hundreds of the 600+ Star Trek episodes I've watched, and I accept my Trekkie status. That said, I still don’t like the godlike aliens nor most of the stories dealing with time travel (Deep Space Nine’s ‘Children of Time’ is a magnificent exception), nor do I care for the mirror universe concept nor most of the religious digressions. I best enjoy scientific inquiries occurring during space explorations rather than military drama, though I’ve seen a handful of great war-focused episodes in the franchise (Deep Space Nine’s ‘Duet’ is one of the best episodes in the history of television, and ‘In the Pale Moonlight’ is also excellent.)
I enjoy the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy dynamic on The Original Series, and like about half of the episodes from that 1960s run, which established a number of good things, but also popularized time travel, omnipotent beings, and parallel universes. I accept but don’t like the use of magic wand-like transporters, which regularly kill dramatic tension by providing easy ways out of peril (thus they are often arbitrarily “down”or not functioning or blocked), and I feel this technology makes little scientific sense: Dispersing humans into subatomic particles (a.k.a. murder), flinging them through solids and across space, and then reassembling these luminous puddles across vast distances. Even ‘The Fly’ (1958) required a secondary unit to receive and reassemble the atomized (dead) subjects. And yeah, the abundance of humanoid aliens in Star Trek I accept as conceit that made a live-action television production possible in the 1960s and led to more anthropological extrapolations rather than xenobiological ones. (Plus those Michael Westmore-designed alien prosthetics became quite spectacular during Deep Space Nine and Enterprise.) So although I’m a Trekkie, I have perhaps more nitpicks than the average…
I do feel some good science fiction appeared in that initial 1960s run—I really dig ‘A Taste of Armageddon,’ ‘The Doomsday Machine,’ ‘Metamorphosis,’ ‘The Changeling,’ ‘The Devil in the Dark,’ ‘The Trouble with Tribbles,’ and twoscore others to a lesser degree. And although ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ isn’t especially well-liked by Trekkies, it is a great sense-of-wonder science fiction spectacle beautifully aided by visuals crafted by special effects maestro Douglas Trumbull, an innovator behind my all-time favorite movie, ‘2001.’ The smartly written fan film ‘What Ships Are For’ (in Star Trek Continues) also outshines the majority of episodes made for The Original Series.
500+ episodes deep into my exploration of Star Trek, I finally read my first Star Trek book. I did some real research prior to deciding which one to buy, for there seem to be an astonishing 800+ books set in this universe related to the various television series. Many, many, many writers have written for the shows and books under this famous aegis, including hard science fiction authors such as Greg Bear, Joe Haldeman, and Larry Niven, and I knew different takes on this intellectual property were plentiful. My research led me to start with Diane Duane’s highly regarded best seller ‘Spock’s World.’ I was quite impressed with the thoughtful, literary quality of her writing, which compares in some ways to Ursula K. Le Guin’s. The cosmologically detailed formation of planet Vulcan and the pre-language sequences depicting primitive cave Vulcans communicating (poorly) with telepathy and learning about their world were quite compelling, and the history of Surak, the Vulcan philosopher, was quite engaging. That book is recommended to fans of The Original Series who want to read a story featuring those familiar characters and gain a broader historical perspective about Vulcans.
‘Prime Directive’ by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens is my second Star Trek novel, a book I’d recommend to fans of the show, but also to science fiction fans in general, for it is simply a great science fiction novel whether or not you’re a Trekkie. The story begins with Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov blamed for the destruction of Talin IV, a planet under observation by Starfleet’s First Contact Office, but not yet contacted, because the observed culture is not quite advanced enough to join the Federation of Planets…even though the two dominant cultures on this world are on the brink of nuclear warfare. After an apocalyptic event, the Enterprise (spacecraft) is stuck in orbit with a nacelle (engine) gripped by a warp field that holds the vessel in place while slowly dissolving her mass. The investigations of what occurred on this planet are compelling, intellectually engrossing, and quite complex…and amongst the ‘hardest’ science fiction I’ve come across in the entire Star Trek franchise. Greg Bear’s ‘Forge of God’ and Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ are decent reference points for the type of scientific investigation found in this book. The authors even give some of the magic wand physics (such as warp speed) found in The Original Series a more scientifically grounded touch up. The discussions of the Prime Directive have the moral complexity and philosophical depth of the best TNG, DS9, and Enterprise episodes, and are equally engaging. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and Scotty are written faithfully, which provides some humor and personal drama amidst all of the large-scale scientific and legal inquiries. Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens also spend time detailing how some new spacecrafts function (the anti-gravitic Wraiths are nicely engineered) and even the ethical boundaries of cloning a beloved pet. Plus, there’s an exciting and cleverly staged dogfight between two spacecrafts.
‘Prime Directive’ is a very smart science-fiction mystery with some real tension and many great sense of wonder images, and yet it’s a book that science fiction fans may overlook (or dismiss) because it’s ‘a Star Trek book.’ Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns,’ the ‘Hannibal’ television show, Alan Moore’s run on ‘Swamp Thing,’ Garth Ennis’ ‘Punisher’ MAX series, David Cronenberg’s remake of ‘The Fly,’ and many other works of art prove that subsequent incarnations of established intellectual properties can qualitatively eclipse the original incarnations, and such is the case with ‘Prime Directive,’ a Star Trek story that exceeds the very best shows found in The Original Series and compares to the franchise’s all-time best episodes, gems like ‘Dear Doctor’ and ‘Similitude’ (from Enterprise); ‘The Inner Light,’ ‘The Offspring,’ and ‘Clues’ (from The Next Generation); ‘Duet’ and ‘Children of Time’ (from Deep Space Nine); and ‘Tuvix’ and ‘Distant Origin’ (from Voyager). In this book, authors Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens went cleverly as well as boldly into the cosmic frontier.
(For interested Trekkies: Search for 'Favorite Star Trek episodes and fan films ranked by writer/director S. Craig Zahler' and you'll see a sizable list I've posted on I M D B)
January 24, 2025
Prime Directive takes place during the fifth year of the Enterprise’s first five-year mission under Kirk. The crew travel to Talin IV to assist a First Contact team that’s been observing the inhabitants of the planet. During the course of the mission, things go awry and the planet becomes a nuclear wasteland. The Enterprise is severely damaged and most of her senior crew are forced to leave Starfleet. Over the course of the novel, we watch our heroes make their way back to Talin IV to piece together what happened and get to see the mission in flashback.
Spock’s storyline raises an interesting moral question about the Prime Directive’s non-interference policy. During the mission, the people of Talin IV are on the brink of nuclear war. Should the Enterprise strictly adhere to the directive and avoid interference, or is there room for a loophole that allows them to intervene without revealing themselves? This question is revisited later when Spock joins a group advocating for the repeal of the Prime Directive, arguing that the Federation has a moral obligation to help non-member worlds reach their full potential. Having Spock at the center of this story is a great way to show the logic in the argument toward benign intervention. The moral dilemmas reach into the philosophical underpinnings of the Star Trek universe, but the authors ultimately sidestep taking a clear stance, leaving this central philosophical dilemma unresolved. It feels like a missed opportunity to take a stand.
Each of the seven main Trek characters is given a storyline as they make their way back to Talin IV, but not all of them feel necessary. Uhura’s discharge from Starfleet and her reunion with McCoy, as well as Sulu and Chekov’s involvement with Orion pirates, don’t meaningfully connect to the book’s core themes of the Prime Directive or the Talin mystery. By contrast, Spock’s exploration of the directive’s morality, Scotty’s investigation of the Enterprise’s damage, and Kirk’s drive to redeem himself as a commander all feel integral to the narrative. Uhura, McCoy, Chekov, and Sulu’s desire to solve the mystery are redundant to Kirk’s story, but without Kirk’s redemption arc. Focusing on the Kirk, Spock, and Scotty storylines would make the book tighter and more engaging. There are also times that a chapter feels like it goes on a page or two too long.
Overall, Prime Directive offers a compelling Star Trek adventure that grapples with one of the franchise’s most iconic moral dilemmas. Its mystery-driven plot and exploration of the Prime Directive’s ethics align well with the spirit of the series, but the book’s potential is hindered by pacing issues, underdeveloped themes, and superfluous character arcs. With tighter editing and a sharper focus on its core philosophical questions, it could have been a standout entry in Star Trek literature. Despite its flaws, it remains a worthwhile read for fans eager to see the Enterprise crew confront the ethical complexities that define their mission.
Spock’s storyline raises an interesting moral question about the Prime Directive’s non-interference policy. During the mission, the people of Talin IV are on the brink of nuclear war. Should the Enterprise strictly adhere to the directive and avoid interference, or is there room for a loophole that allows them to intervene without revealing themselves? This question is revisited later when Spock joins a group advocating for the repeal of the Prime Directive, arguing that the Federation has a moral obligation to help non-member worlds reach their full potential. Having Spock at the center of this story is a great way to show the logic in the argument toward benign intervention. The moral dilemmas reach into the philosophical underpinnings of the Star Trek universe, but the authors ultimately sidestep taking a clear stance, leaving this central philosophical dilemma unresolved. It feels like a missed opportunity to take a stand.
Each of the seven main Trek characters is given a storyline as they make their way back to Talin IV, but not all of them feel necessary. Uhura’s discharge from Starfleet and her reunion with McCoy, as well as Sulu and Chekov’s involvement with Orion pirates, don’t meaningfully connect to the book’s core themes of the Prime Directive or the Talin mystery. By contrast, Spock’s exploration of the directive’s morality, Scotty’s investigation of the Enterprise’s damage, and Kirk’s drive to redeem himself as a commander all feel integral to the narrative. Uhura, McCoy, Chekov, and Sulu’s desire to solve the mystery are redundant to Kirk’s story, but without Kirk’s redemption arc. Focusing on the Kirk, Spock, and Scotty storylines would make the book tighter and more engaging. There are also times that a chapter feels like it goes on a page or two too long.
Overall, Prime Directive offers a compelling Star Trek adventure that grapples with one of the franchise’s most iconic moral dilemmas. Its mystery-driven plot and exploration of the Prime Directive’s ethics align well with the spirit of the series, but the book’s potential is hindered by pacing issues, underdeveloped themes, and superfluous character arcs. With tighter editing and a sharper focus on its core philosophical questions, it could have been a standout entry in Star Trek literature. Despite its flaws, it remains a worthwhile read for fans eager to see the Enterprise crew confront the ethical complexities that define their mission.
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